The legendary Sviatoslav Richter brings Tchaikovsky’s elusive solo piano works to life.
“…the only one of his kind.” That was how one critic described legendary soviet piano virtuoso Sviatoslav Richter when he first heard him play. Since his death in 1997, his reputation as indisputably one of the greatest pianists of all time has only risen. Richter overwhelmed audiences worldwide with his mastery of the keyboard and phenomonally powerful technique and wide dynamic range. With his compatriots, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and violinist David Oistrakh, he was responsible for the robust Soviet-American cultural exchange that began in the 1970s.
Tchaikovsky was a particular favorite composer of Richter’s and the pianist did much to raise the profile of the great Russian composer’s music for solo piano. This CD presents a selection of Tchaikovsky’s finest miniatures, played with enormous character, eloquence, and color.
